Mommy & Me gets grant from Health Plan of San Joaquin

Monday

Feb 21, 2011 at 12:01 AM

Jeff Slater, grants administrator for Health Plan of San Joaquin, was on hand Wednesday to present a check to the board of trustees for the Mommy & Me Program, one of fourteen nonprofit community organizations that were awarded grants totaling more than $260,000 from the plan's Community Wellness Funding Program.

Jeff Slater, grants administrator for Health Plan of San Joaquin, was on hand Wednesday to present a check to the board of trustees for the Mommy and Me Program, one of fourteen nonprofit community organizations that were awarded grants totaling more than $260,000 from the plan's Community Wellness Funding Program.

Health Plan of San Joaquin has been serving San Joaquin County since 1996, providing affordable health care coverage to children and adults, and has a history of commitment to supporting nonprofit organizations that work toward improving the health and well-being of Stockton's low-income communities.

Health Plan of San Joaquin awarded the Mommy and Me Program $17,304 in support of its efforts to reduce and eliminate the high rate of infant mortality, specifically black infant mortality, in San Joaquin County.

Mommy and Me is a faith-based community organization of the Hilliard Chapel AME Zion Church, based in south Stockton and serving the low-income community.

Through community-based collaborative efforts, the program's mission focuses not only on the medical aspects of maternal, prenatal and infant health care delivery systems but also on the social, environmental and economic factors that contribute to infant mortality. The program provides community education and outreach services regarding racial disparity in infant mortality, access to health care, and elimination of social and generational standards that prevent successful pregnancy outcomes.

The program provides support and education to women in at-risk black and low-income communities, early intervention services, and identification and resolution of conditions associated with maternal health risk factors that adversely affect birth outcomes.

Mommy and Me's office is at 2064 E. Washington St. in Stockton. The program also operates a boutique that consists of new and gently used infant and toddler apparel, infant formula, disposable diapers, blankets, maternity wear and personal hygiene products.

Clients of Mommy and Me receive paper money ("Mommy and Me Bucks") for each positive action taken toward health education and self-empowerment, such as keeping prenatal medical appointments, attending parenting classes, enrolling in a course of study, or other life education classes and activities. The Mommy and Me Bucks collected allow a pregnant or parenting woman to purchase items for herself and her baby from the Mommy and Me Boutique.

For more information, contact program coordinator/outreach specialist Heather Wright at (209) 462-4350 or heatherwright@mommyandme.comcastbiz.net. Office hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Friday.

- Information and photo submitted by Daline Duncan

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